5 players with unusual free-kick stances in Football 

Just like how tactics and systems of particular teams create a visual art on a footballing pitch, taking free-kicks and set pieces is a skill of its own and long mentioned in the history books, some players create an art out of it. Roberto Carlos, Andrea Pirlo, Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane all in the past have shown that the art exists in not only how the ball is struck but also the positioning, the amount of footsteps and the amount of power applied to it along with the usage of the feet which have given rise to popular techniques such as the knuckle-ball.

However, as time has evolved, it has put forward players with unique footballing stances who are gifted with a terrific ability to convert free-kicks. These players have influenced a generation and several youngsters tend to copy their styles. Here are five players in football with unique free-kick stances.

5) Neymar Junior

Unlike the players in the past such as Frank Lampard or even Juninho who like to have proper run-ups before striking the ball when free-kicks are concerned, the stance of Neymar da Silva Santos Junior is a unique one. He takes a wide position from the ball but he just likes to keep one short accurate step before striking it clean.

Ever since his days in Brazil, the forward has been gifted with a knack of scoring free-kicks and that has developed over time till his career at Paris St.Germain. The lethal attacker has 22 goals from direct free-kicks and the most notable one of those free-kicks came in Barcelona's historic comeback at the Camp Nou where Neymar's free-kick rejuvenated Catalan hopes and it lead them to a victory over his current club PSG.

Neymar's free-kick stance does fall into the category of unusual but there are more players who have developed a distinct style of their own.

4) Gareth Bale

Ever since the Welshman made a resonating name for himself after becoming one of the most deadly strikers of the ball, he showed that it was not only limited to cutting inside and shooting but it also applied in the way he struck free-kicks. For free-kicks however, he has created an unusual stance for himself which comes close to that of Cristiano Ronaldo's but there's a lot of difference in the way these players strike the ball.

Gareth Bale in his career span has converted 13 direct free-kicks and 6 long-distance ones, not a lot but effective enough whenever it was needed. From the first free-kick coming in the championship against Derby County with Southampton, to a free-kick scored in the London derby with Spurs to a free-kick against Sevilla in the colours of Real Madrid, Gareth Bale has come a long way and he's kept his style while representing Wales as well. His name on this list is not surprising.

3) Cristiano Ronaldo

This Portuguese sensation is one player who does not need any description when it comes to his overall abilities but his free-kick technique and his stance is quite fascinating and pleasing to the eye. After Ronaldo switched to Old Trafford around 2003, very few would have expected him to go on to become what he would become but he defied expectations and his ability to take free-kicks along with his style became one of the hottest topics in world football and it did become a unique quality of his.

From the remarkable free-kick goals against Portsmouth and Arsenal to the ones carried over in Spain and scored against the likes of Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, Ronaldo did not stop there and he made sure that his free-kicks counted even in the Champions League with goals coming against the likes of Bayern Munich. Over the years, Ronaldo has pocketed 44 direct free-kick goals and 8 long-distance ones and even today in the colours of Juventus, when he steps over a free-kick, he just looks as daunting as the name he created for himself with his free-kicks.

2) David Beckham

Steeped in the deep memories of England's history is that astounding free-kick David Beckham whipped against Greece to register England's name in the World Cup finals. This list would not be complete without his inclusion, one of football's most hard-working players who worked constantly on his skill and technique and sharpened his game.

It was said that even after several practise sessions, Beckham would take extra sessions to practise more of his free-kicks and that came in handy throughout his career. In a career where he went to the top cities from Manchester to Madrid to Milan and to Paris, Beckham netted 65 free-kick goals and some of them have been truly beautiful.

Giving rise to a very popular slogan " Bend it like Beckham ", his stance stands out and it wouldn't really be peculiar even today if some of the youngsters tried to imitate his style and tried to improvise on it. Leicester City's James Maddison for example has a Beckham like posture. Beckham's stance is definitely unusual but there is no imagining him without it.

1) Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho Gaucho's ability to do things with the ball was unparalleled and completely mesmerising but so was his stance to take a free-kick which kept people hooked and his conversion was jaw-dropping. Taking quick long sturdy steps towards the ball, the Brazilian struck it with a certain venom and at times the ball swung so brilliantly that it was headed nowhere but into the net.

His career has been great as well with him playing a crucial part with Barcelona and then with AC Milan but if there are two things he would be remembered for, then it would be his skills and his free-kicks.

Football is lucky enough to have witnessed such stars and this generation is bringing out more free-kick takers with styles and stances of their own. French players such as Paul Pogba and Dmitri Payet are primary examples and as a football fan, one can only hope that in the future there are more players with gifted techniques but more importantly, more players with such unique stances that they influence and inspire others and make a name for themselves.